Sasha found West already waiting for her in the garden. In purposeful strides, she approached him and murmured, "We must go."

His brows fused together, he asked, "Have you found something?"

"Yes," she replied before walking away to find a service that would call for Briana. When she returned to his side, she said, "Come."

Together, they exited the Flower Garden and walked beside the road. The trees were green, the grass moist. It would have been a lovely day with the nearby lake mirroring the open blue skies above, with the frequent chirping of the birds hidden in the trees. But they did not have the luxury of time to stop and appreciate.

"I cannot find any record of the child that was born here. The easiest way to do that was to check into the names of the women that were courted eighteen years after. But none of those women were courted on the same day the birth was recorded."

"Perhaps she was courted—"

"It is not done in Belcourt. Whether or not a lady can attend the Courting Ceremony for whatever reason, she will still be courted. She may fall ill on that day, but her courting will be recorded on the same day of her birth."

"Then what are you suggesting? That Belcourt has deliberately lost her records?"

Sasha's jaw tightened. "Or someone made certain I cannot find it."

West's exasperated sigh made her turn her head and look up at him. "And there is something else."

He looked at her, eyes bare of emotions. "What?"

She looked behind them. Her stagecoach was approaching. "It is about your mother."

She watched him clench his jaw. "What of her?"

"Later."

*****

Their journey back to Coulway was quiet, both of them deep in their own thoughts.

Sasha, for once, was not even aware of West's presence for her mind was still reeling from her discovery and Gabrielle's lies.

When Sasha ordered for Iyana, Briana, and the cook to go downtown and shop for supper, West threw her a curious look. "It has been some time since the duke and I have shared a fine dinner together," she told Iyana. "And oh, do not forget the ham, Iyana."

With the three servants gone, Sasha led West upstairs.

"We cannot go to your villa. Gabrielle approached me in Belcourt. We cannot give her any reason to wonder why we need the privacy of your villa. She could be on her way here by now."

West followed her into her bedchamber. Sasha locked the door whirled around to face him, speaking in haste.

"I had to be certain that your mother indeed left Belcourt. I searched for her records and discovered something."

West frowned. "I have told you she did leave Belcourt. My father was certain of that. She left alone."

She nodded. "And now I am certain of that as well."

"What did you discover?"

Sasha lit the lamps and closed the curtains. Turning to face him, she said, "She was banished to the island."

West remained motionless in the middle of the room. "She was no longer a part of Belcourt. How could she be banished?"

"Whenever a Lady of Belcourt leaves Belcourt, she is not truly free of Belcourt."

"Whyever not?"

Sasha moistened her lips. "Any lady of Belcourt who wishes to leave has to sign the vow."

His eyes narrowed in concentration. "A vow is a debt everyone who signs it should honor whenever Belcourt finds the need to ask for a favor."

"Yes. Every vow is different in nature. Your mother signed the vow when she left to marry your father."

"You are saying that Elizabeth Blackwood has broken her vow."

She nodded.

"What was her vow?"

Sasha averted her gaze and moistened her lips. Then she closed her eyes to say, "She was asked to discontinue her pregnancy."

The silence that followed was nearly unbearable because it was suffocating at best. West's entire form had gone tight, his face darkening. The fury was building. Sasha could feel it in the air around them.

Then he scoffed. "Of course. Belcourt knows what is best always, does it not?"

Sasha felt the tears sting behind her eyes. She did not know why, but she was crying for Elizabeth Blackwood. The woman had broken a vow to save a life and she was banished for it. "Belcourt does things unconventional, yes, but it does so to protect the whole. Belcourt was in support of the new king and they could not afford to put his reputation at risk."

"Do you truly believe that?" he asked. She met his gaze.

No, she did not for she could not fathom why Belcourt would sacrifice a child's life. But she also understood why they would make the decision.

"No, do not answer that," he said, his voice flat and cold. "I would not even argue with you on this one, Sasha. We have been through this before."

Yes, they had. He would never understand her loyalty to Belcourt, nor would she demand it from him.

"Are you suggesting then that Belcourt could have murdered her?"

Sasha shook her head. "As in any society, murder is not permitted in Belcourt."

"And taking a life inside a womb is?"

Sasha closed her eyes. "I do not know, but we would not be facing all of these if your sister is dead, would we?"

When her eyes fluttered open, she found him looking at her. "No."

*****

West turned away from Sasha just so he could clam down.

He did not know if he should be pleased she was telling him this. He had no intention to find out what happened to his mother after she left Belcourt alone. But to know the choices she had to make made caused him confusion.

His father had always painted the woman to be naught but a whore.

He never ever thought of Elizabeth Blackwood as a mother.

And she was, in all sense, a mother.

He took a lungful of air and looked around the room. He had been here many times, made love to Sasha here, had enjoyed her silhouette through the lace curtains that surrounded the giant bed. He knew that there was a red book in one of the drawers of the closet.

Everything had been so close to bliss before Everleigh.

"Are you sure you checked all the records? No record of her at all?" he asked, voice calmer than before.

"It would take me months to look into every record, West, but I will try to dig further the soonest I can return to Belcourt. Every child in Belcourt should have a record, even the elected ones."

"The elected ones?"

Not hearing his question, she continued, "Then why can I not find her? Are you certain you have looked at other orphanages?"

"I looked into every single orphanage. Sasha, what did you mean by the elected ones?"

She blinked in confusion. "What?"

"You said every child in Belcourt has a record, even the elected ones. Who are the elected ones?"

Starting to pace, she placed her hand on her head, thinking hard. "The elected ones are the hidden children of Belcourt."

"What?" he incredulously asked.

"They are plucked out of the Manor and taken into the Palace."

"Why are they taken—" he stopped as understanding dawned on him. "They are to replace the Maidens and the High Priestess."

"Yes, but I do not know much about them. Their identities are a secret, but their records should still be in the Library—when they are taken into the Palace, their age when they were taken there, their age when they came into Belcourt. Their names are expunged, but their records remain."

"Did you look into them?" he asked.

"Of course, but it is hard to determine how many of the elected ones I am to look for because Belcourt elects them whenever they find it necessary."

"You mean to say that you cannot tell if all records of these elected children are accounted for."

"Yes."

"Then perhaps you can find a way into the Palace—"

She stopped and sharply turned to face him. "Have I not told you? It is impossible to get into the Palace. Only the Maidens and the High Priestess have direct contact with the elected children."

"But Sasha, it is possible that my sister could be one of these bloody elected women. Hell, she could already be a Maiden or the bloody High Priestess herself!"

She shook her head, thoughtful. "No, she cannot be the High Priestess. We have had the same High Priestess for years."

"How do you know when you have not even laid eyes on the woman?"

"Belcourt does not lie. Everyone in Belcourt is made aware when a new High Priestess is sired."

"Of course Belcourt does not lie. They just keep too many bloody secrets, don't they? Like all of us!" he cried out in frustration. "The very reason why we are where we are right now, Sasha, is because you suspect someone in Belcourt. And that same person is in the bloody Palace—" he stopped, realizing something. "This Gabrielle is from the Palace."

"Yes, but not all women in the Court of Arms can gain access to the Maidens, West. She would not be doing what she is doing if she knows where your sister is."

"Unless she is not looking for my sister. Unless she is looking for a way to get her out of there."

He saw the color leave her face. "No, that is—why would she do that?"

"To take her to the prince, what else?"

She shook her head. "If that were so, then why would she be wasting time doing that? Why would she—"

"She is looking for someone to suffer for the crime she is about to do."

Sasha blinked. "You?"

"Or you."

Sasha shook her head and sighed in frustration. She began to pace the room. "I do not understand."

"I think we will only understand if we can learn more about this woman."

"You mean Gabrielle?"

"Yes."

She seemed to hesitate. "I can look into her records."

West nodded. "If we have leverage against her, we may just get our answers."

Sasha slowly made her way to the bed and sat, burying her face in her hands. "This is too bloody complicated. Good Lord, who would have thought I would ever find myself in this situation? I am committing high treason against Belcourt just by being here with you."

West stared at her for a while looking at her confused state. "Sasha, this will be over soon."

"Of course," she said with a scoff, lifting her head to glare at him. "However this ends, you have a chance. You can escape Sutherland with all your money. Or you can live the same way if it ends well." She threw her head up and groaned. "I should not have done this. I should have just taken your father's bloody journal and let them drag you to be questioned. You could have been free if you gave them enough evidence that you mean the kingdom no harm. I could be back in—what have I done?"

West knew that it was not the right thing to do, but he found himself softly chuckling.

She scowled. "You dare laugh."

"I have never seen you in such a state of uncertainty and panic, Sasha. Well, apart from when we're in bed, I have never seen you this way."

As his words sank in, his mouth closed in a firm line. Sasha swallowed and averted her gaze, becoming restless.

She jumped to her feet and circled once, twice, looking everywhere but him. She cleared her throat. "Perhaps it is best we go downstairs."

West did not say a word.

"We need more time to think this through. We have to think in Gabrielle's perspective. And yes, I need to get into her records. That will help us get into her mind. We need to get into her mind to anticipate her next move—"

"Sasha," he softly said, stopping her by the arm. "Relax."

As if scorched, she stepped away from his grip. "I am—I am trying to relax. Which is why I need tea. I will brew some while we wait for the servants. And you ought to stay for dinner, otherwise, they will suspect."

She opened the door and her unnecessary chatter continued.

West gave the bedchamber one last sweeping glance, then smiled.